Pittsburgh's Own Regional Notables of Jazz
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PITTSBURGH JAZZ
From Blakey to Brown, Como to Costa, Eckstine to Eldridge, Galbraith to Garner, Harris to Hines, Horne to Hyman, Jamal to Jefferson, Kelly to Klook; Mancini to Marmarosa, May to Mitchell, Negri to Nestico, Parlan to Ponder, Reed to Ruther, Strayhorn to Sullivan, Turk to Turrentine, Wade to Williams… the forthcoming publication Treasury of Pittsburgh Jazz Connections by Dr. Nelson Harrison and Dr. Ralph Proctor, Jr. will document the legacy of one of the world’s greatest jazz capitals.
Do you want to know who Dizzy Gillespie idolized? Did you ever wonder who inspired Kenny Clarke and Art Blakey? Who was the pianist that mentored Monk, Bud Powell, Tad Dameron, Elmo Hope, Sarah Vaughan and Mel Torme? Who was Art Tatum’s idol and Nat Cole’s mentor? What musical quartet pioneered the concept adopted later by the Modern Jazz Quartet? Were you ever curious to know who taught saxophone to Stanley Turrentine or who taught piano to Ahmad Jamal? What community music school trained Robert McFerrin, Sr. for his history-making debut with the Metropolitan Opera? What virtually unknown pianist was a significant influence on young John Coltrane, Shirley Scott, McCoy Tyner, Bobby Timmons and Ray Bryant when he moved to Philadelphia from Pittsburgh in the 1940s? Would you be surprised to know that Erroll Garner attended classes at the Julliard School of Music in New York and was at the top of his class in writing and arranging proficiency?
Some answers can be gleaned from the postings on the Pittsburgh Jazz Network.
For almost 100 years the Pittsburgh region has been a metacenter of jazz originality that is second to no other in the history of jazz. One of the best kept secrets in jazz folklore, the Pittsburgh Jazz Legacy has heretofore remained mythical. We have dubbed it “the greatest story never told” since it has not been represented in writing before now in such a way as to be accessible to anyone seeking to know more about it. When it was happening, little did we know how priceless the memories would become when the times were gone.
Today jazz is still king in Pittsburgh, with events, performances and activities happening all the time. The Pittsburgh Jazz Network is dedicated to celebrating and showcasing the places, artists and fans that carry on the legacy of Pittsburgh's jazz heritage.
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INTERVIEW
Erroll Garner documentary trailer
Trailer for Erroll Garner: No One Can Hear You Read. A documentary chronicling the life and career of this jazz legend. To learn more please visit www.erroll...
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Comment by Dr. Nelson Harrison on December 20, 2013 at 9:58pm
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What the Critics are Saying
"If you don't recognize the name ‘Erroll Garner’ then we know two things about you: (1) You know nothing about the piano, and (2) you probably listen to music on your phone. For the rest of us, Garner spent 40 years exploring the piano, an instrument stifled by centuries of German classical traditions, turning it into an expressive tool for the masses. His freewheeling jazz found expression on the keyboard in ways that no other performer had ever dreamed of, profoundly enriching our generation's music and inspiring countless performers around the world. This doc explores his living legacy with great live performances." - Video Tapeworm
"Rich in fruits from the archival vaults. I’ve always counted Fats Domino and Thelonious Monk as the two pianists most fun simply to watch play, but Erroll Garner belongs on the list as well." - Mike Clark, Home Media Magazine
"Erroll Garner was a giant among jazz pianists. His ability to spontaneously create great musical works at the piano while performing for an audience was legendary. His music is melodic, rhythmic, rhapsodic, and original. As a musician he was one of a kind."
- Billy Taylor, Jazz Pianist & Composer"Garner is the single most important piano stylist of the past 35 years. He epitomizes all that makes jazz the great music of our age. To put it simply, Erroll Garner is a great musical genius." - George Wein, Jazz Impresario
"The complete musician is what he was. He could make you cry and make you laugh and make you think. And that's what an artist is supposed to do." - Ahmad Jamal, Pianist & Composer
"I'll never forget that it was Sarah Vaughan that first introduced me to Erroll's ballads, and that introduction turned into a life-long love affair I've had with this man's music -- a man who has left his indelible mark on the world of music." - Johnny Mathis, Singer
"I don't think there is a jazz pianist, young or old, who hasn't been influenced by Erroll Garner." - Jimmy Rowles, Jazz Pianist & Composer
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Comment by Dan Wasson on December 20, 2013 at 9:55pm
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Comment by Paul Carosi on December 17, 2013 at 3:55am
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Great tribute to a piano Genius - Learn more at Pittsburgh Music History
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